it would add nearly a quintillion dollars to a federal deficit budget. the not long ago in a hotel ballroom not that far away -- an idea was born. >> we're watching a new online tool called me the people to allow americans to directly petition the white house. >> reporter: it was a noble concept, the kind of thing obi-wan or obama wan kenobi would have thought of. >> help me, obi-wan kenobi. you're my only hope. >> reporter: to go on to the website, and petition for change. if 25,000 citizens agreed, the administration would respond. but faster than a light sabre, people began petitioning for all kinds of strange things from recognizing ping-pong as a school sport to deporting piers morgan for his views on guns, but the most popular idea of all -- >> i have a bad feeling about this. >> reporter: a petition to, quote, secure resources and funding and begin construction of a death star by 2016. the reason? to, quote, spur job creation and strengthen our national defense. nearly 35,000 people went online and agreed, and the white house, true to its word, re